Electric outlet-insulator.



No. 836,396. PATENTED NOV; 20,1906. J. B. MOORE. ELECTRIC OUTLET INSULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED 001. 2']. 1902.

K I I Y .27.! WIZTNESSES: la INVENTOR,

{% if v W I d. 1--- ATTY UNITED STATES V PATENT OFFICE.

ELECTRIC OUTLET-INSULATOR- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 20, 1906.

Application filed October 27,1902. Serial No. 128,946.

To all 1071 0171, it ntay concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN E. MOORE, a citi zen of the United States, residing in Davenport, in Scott county, Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful Form of Combination Gas and Electric Outlet-Insulator, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, enabling those skilled in the arts to manufacture and use the same.

The present invention relates to outlet-insulators for holding and insulating electric wires at combination gas and electric outlets.

Where electric and gas lights are attached to the same fixture, as is now very generally the custom, the electric wires are necessarily brought very close to the gaspipes. On account of this relation the greatest danger from fire from electric wires in houses arranged for gas and electric lights is at those points where the electric wires pass near the gas-pipes before entering the combinationfixture. Heretofore the electric outlet-wires at combination gas and electric outlets have been insulated from the gas-pipes either by flexible tubing made of textural material or by separate porcelain or clay wiring-tubes of the usual form. In either case the wires are threaded through these tubes and the tubes either bound directly to the gas-pipe outlet or pass through holes in wooden blocks or timbers alongside of the gas-pipe. Neither flexible tubing nor ordinary wiring-tubes make entirely safe or satisfactory outlet-insulators, as the one does not possess high insulating qualitiesand deteriorates rapidly with age, and the other does not hold the wires far enough away from the gas-pipe, allows the wires to be pushed up in contact with each other and the gas-pipe, and, as usually installed, are frequently broken off and pushed out of place in hanging the light-fixtures.

The objects of the present invention are, first, to provide an outlet-insulator of the highest and most permanent insulating material; second, to provide an outlet-insulator of such form and material that the outletwires will be insulated from each other and from the gas-pipe sufficiently to withstand. much greater electrical stresses than are usu ally brought to bear upon them without the insulation breaking down at this point; third, to provide an outlet-insulator formed so that the wires will be rigidly and permanently held in place after same are installed fourth, to provide, a form of outlet-insulator which while of highly-insulating material is not readily broken or misplaced in the operation of installing the light-fixture fifth, to provide an outlet-insulator which will insulate and protect the electric wires from the gas-pipe below and above the points where the elec tric wires enter and leave the insulator, so that they cannot be wrapped around or accidentally brought in contact with the gaspipe. The accompanying drawings, constituting a part hereof, show one form of outletinsulator by means of which I attain these objects.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation, and Fig. 2 an edge or end elevation, of an outlet-insulator molded in a solid piece for ceiling-outlets. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of an outlet-insulator for ceiling-outlets, showing the manner in which I prefer to make the same. Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken through Fig. 1 on substantially the line A B. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken through the insulator shown in Fig. 3 on substantially the line C D thereof. Fig. 6 shows the method of attaching this outlet-insulator to gas-pipes for ceiling-outlets where the gasoutlet pipe is dropped from the main supplypipe between the joists or floor-timbers, and Fig. 7 shows the method of attachment where the gas-outlet pipe is run close to the side of the joists or floor-timbers.

In all of the views the corresponding parts are designated by the same reference characters.

In Fig. 1, G is a tube, of porcelian or other highly-insulating material, of such internal diameter as to permit it to be slipped freely over the gas-pipe outlet to which the outletinsulator is to be attached. The tube G is made with thick walls for mechanical strength and to afford the required electrical insulation. The tube G is made of such length that it will extend from the lower end of the gas-pipe outlet to a point two inches or more above the general level upon which the main electric wires are run. On diametrically opposite sides of the tube G are located the two wire-ways or tubes E, also of porcelain or other highlydnsulating material, and, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, are molded solidly with and form extensions on the sides of tube G. The upper ends of these Wiretubes E turn outward, as shown, at such a height that the openings in the upper ends of these tubes will be on a general level with the main electric wires. The wire-tubes are thus formed in order to increase the distance between the outlet-wires and gas-pipe, as well as to allow an easy and natural entrance for the outlet-wires to the outlet-insulator from the main conductors. These wire-tubes E are of such internal diameter as will just allow the outlet-wires to be threaded through themfrom the upper or curved ends of the tubes, and when once in place, owing to this curved form of the upper ends of the tubes, it is very difficult to push the wires upward from the lower ends of the tubes. This arrangement prevents the outlet-wires from being accidentally or carelessly misplaced or brought into contact with each other or the gas-pipe in installing the light-fixture or subsequently. The wire-tubes E terminate about half an inch above the lower end of the gas-pipe tube G to enable the outlet-wires to be more easily carried around the insulatingjoint at the end of the gas-pipe outlet.

The manner in which these outlet-insulators are installed varies with the method of running the gas-pipes, with the method of attaching the gas-outlet pipes, and with the manner in which the main gas-pipes and outlet-pipes are supported and fastened to joists or floor-timbers. Figs. 6 and 7 show the method of installing this outlet-insulator in two typical cases; In Fig. 6 the gas-outlet pipe O is dropped directly from the main gaspipe P midway between the two floor-timbers J. There is first slipped over the gasoutlet pipe 0 a short length of cylindrical tubing T of vitrified or other highly-insulating material and of such length that it will extend from the fitting on the main gas-pipe P to the upper end of the tube G of the outlet-insulator when in place. The tube G of the outlet-insulator is then slipped over the gas-pipe outlet 0 and carried upward until the upper end of tube G presses against the lower end of tube T. The gas-cap K is then screwed on the lower end of outlet-tube O and holds the outlet-insulator from slipping downward, while the tube T prevents the outlet-insulator from being displaced upward. A cross-piece of wood X just long enough to extend between the joists J has three holes bored through it, so that it may he slipped over the outlet-insulator, as shown in Fig. 6. The cross-piece X is then firmly nailed or otherwise fastened to the joists J. The method of installing the outlet-insulator shown in Fig. 7 differs from that shown in Fig. 6 only in the manner of applying the lower support to the outlet-insulator. I11 this case the main gas-pipe P is run close to the sides of the joist J and the weight of the gas-pipe, outlet, and fixture is supported by the cross-piece R. The tube T and outletinsulator are installed as described in connection with Fig. 6. The lower end of the outletinsulator and gas-pipe is supported by means of the cleat C, made of wood or metal and shaped so as to fit on the outlet-insulator.

This cleat is nailed or otherwise firmly fastened to the joist J.

The outlet-insulator just described can be molded by well-known methods in a single piece, as herein shown and described; but in molding as complicated a piece as this inequalities and flaws unavoidable in the process are liable to render a large percentage of the finished pieces worthless, and the process is slow, and hence expensive. I wish to describe an improved method of manufacturing these outlet-insulators which enables them to be made more perfectly than is possible by molding them in a single piece and which enables them at the same time to be made much cheaper. I divide the outletinsulator into three distinct tubes or parts. In Figs. 3 and 5 of the drawings these parts are the two wire-tubes E and the gas-pipe tube G. I mold the two wire-tubes E in the usual way as cylindrical tubes with curved ends, as shown. In molding the gas-pipe tube G, I mold two fillets F on opposite sides of this tube and so shaped that the wire-tubes E will neatly fit into the fillets when laid. alongside the tube G. The tubes so made when ready to be fired or burned are assembled so as to make a complete outlet-insulator. Beforefiring I supply an extra amount of glazing material along the contacts between the wiring-tubes E and the gaspipe tube G, and. in the process of firing the glaze flows and thoroughly binds or cements the three tubes together.

While I have described one form of outlet-insulator which I have found a convenient and useful embodiment of my invention and have also set forth the manner in which I prefer to assemble the same, I do not wish to limit my invention to this one form, for it is obvious that many changes might be made without departing from the real spirit and substance of the invention. a

What I claim as new, and wish to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a gas and electric outletinsulator, the combination of a tube for the gas-pipe, and a plurality of wiring-tubes secured thereto and extending alongside thereof, the upper ends of said wiring-tubes being curved outwardly from the gas-pipe tube, for the purpose specified.

2. 111 a gas and electric outlet-insulator, the combination of a central gas-pipe tube, and a plurality of wiring-tubes secured thereto, and extending alongside thereof, the said gas-pipe tube projecting at each end beyond. the ends of the wiring-tubes, and the upper ends of the said. wiring-tubes curving outwardly from the gas-pipe tube, for the purpose specified.

3. In a gas and. electric outlet-insulator, the combination of a tube for the gas-pipe, a wiring-tube connected therewith and exten ding alongside thereof, said. gas-pipe tube extending below the lower end of the Wiring-tube and a separate tubing T of insulating material surrounding the pipe and resting upon the upper part of the gas-pipe tube, for the purpose specified.

4. In a gas and electric outlet-insulator, the combination of a central tube for the gaspipe, a pair of wiring-tubes secured thereto, and extending alongside thereof, the said gas-pipe tube projecting at each end beyond the ends of the Wiring-tubes, and a separate tubing T of insulating materialsurrounding the gas-pipe and resting upon the upper end of the said central tube.

5. In a gas and electric outlet-insulator, the combination of a tube for the gaspipe, and a Wiring-tube secured thereto and ex tending alongside thereof, the gas-pipe tube projecting beyond the upper end of the wiring-tube, the said upper end of the Wiringtube curving outwardly from the gas-pipe tube, for the purpose specified.

6. The combination of a gas-pipe, a OlOSlIlg device on the end of said pipe, a gas-pipe tube surrounding said pipe and resting on said closing device, and aWiring-tube secured to said gas-pipe tube and extending along side thereof, the gas-pipe tube next to the closing device extending beyond the Wiringtubes so that the ends of the Wires may be secured thereto Without contact With the gas- 1 e. P p JOHN E. MOORE.

Witnesses:

HY. SCHMIDT, I. N. BUTTERWORTH. 

